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OTHER NORTH: Only Thor Hushovd has previously worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France as a Norwegian. Here Kristoff does the same in Nice on Saturday. Photo: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL
According to his own coach, NICE (VG) Alexander Kristoff (33) has never asked for better than what he did in France on Saturday night. The secret is almost a year old.
Stein Ørn reveals this to VG, having seen Kristoff sweep all opponents from the field on the Nice seafront.
The Norwegian won on a length bike to the next and took his fourth stage victory in the Tour de France. It also secured him a yellow Tour leader jersey for the first time in his career.
– I am 33 years old and I have four children at home. Despite that, I win in the biggest race in the world. So it gives everyone hope I guess. But I am proud to win today. It couldn’t have been better. The yellow jersey is a bonus. I am proud and honored to use it for the first time in my career, Kristoff tells VG in France.
At home in Norway, coach Stein Ørn sat down, clearly excited.
– This is the best I’ve seen of Alexander in a question. He refutes himself and his own claim that he has slowed down. It’s silly and I’ve told him so many times in training. He shows not only speed and aggression, but also a formidable ability to make the right decisions, he tells VG.
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And then he pulls a secret card out of his sleeve:
– We have been working on this for a year. It is about increasing your muscle capacity through a new training system. Technically, there has also been an adjustment before it fell. He is very well prepared, but I never thought he would be able to do this, says Ørn.
– Can you explain what the change consists of?
– I don’t want to say much about it, but we have worked to stimulate the muscles in a way that I think is very important. Today you saw an ability to make small accelerations different from what you had done before. It is the result of a completely new training methodology that we have been working on for a year. Good to see, says the coach.
– What is the inspiration?
– The interaction between muscles and the nervous system.
– Does it happen through you as a doctor, or through an outside person?
– No. It was a process. But that’s just one of many elements today. He also makes many correct decisions.
Stein Ørn and Alexander Kristoff have previously been very open about how they work. Ørn elaborated on this in a VG article before the victory in Flanders as early as 2015.
– Why are you so reserved now?
– Because we have published everything he has done that has been good in terms of training before. “We keep this trick to ourselves for a while longer,” smiles Ørn.
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Alexander Kristoff was a big smile after the end of Saturday night. He spoke about how he ranked victory over his predecessor at the Tour de France, on the mighty Champs-Elysees in 2018, and that the UAE team now has a completely different calm at the start of this year’s race.
A day earlier, however, he had told VG that he would be surprised if he “hit and won the first stage on Saturday.”
NO KISSES, HUGS AND HUGS: The crown measurements ensure a good distance also on the podium of the Tour de France. Here’s Kristoff on Saturday night. Photo: STUART FRANKLIN / PISCINA
He repeated this after the victory:
– I’m a little surprised to have won today, but I felt good and had a good position. I was surprised by how easily I landed the position, but that can change from one day to the next. But it gives me confidence in what is going to happen next.
– Describe your sprint?
– I stayed behind the wheel of Peter Sagan who is good at such finals, but I lost him by five hundred meters to play. Then I drove to Cees Bol (Sunweb), which started a little earlier. It ended up being a good draw for me. When he lost speed, he still had good legs. With 50 meters remaining, he was pretty sure. I can’t describe the feeling … I’ve been feeling good in speed training lately, so hopefully I can compete in the race too, says Kristoff.
COACH: Stein Ørn, at home in Stavanger. The picture is from the time in Katusja, today Kristoff is cycling in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Carina Johansen
Stein Ørn responds “everything, absolutely everything” when VG asks what Saturday’s victory means to Kristoff, 33.
– Nobody expected anything from him. In terms of racing, it is absolutely crucial as everyone discards it all the time, says a proud coach at home in Stavanger.
– Are you excited tonight?
Ørn takes a short break before answering:
– Yes. Am. This is so great. It is a season with few opportunities. Managing this after so long… In cycling, as in all other sports, the achievements are new. With the way he runs today, he shows that he has speed and the ability to make decisions that he hasn’t had before. He refutes many with the way he drove today, says the coach.
